Well pump



A. G. GAGE May 9, 1933.

WELL PUMP Patented May 9., .1933

PATENT OFFICE .ARTHUR G. GAGE 0F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA WELL PUMPApplication ined April lo, 1931,` serial No. 529,061'. lneuwied october7, 1932.

This invention has reference to deep well pumps of the fluid pressureoperated type 1n which the pump is carried on the lower end of the wellpipe and the pump piston is actuated 5 by high pressure fluid conducteddownwardly through the well pipe, the well liquid being discharged bythe pump nl to a pumping column also within the well pipe. Theinventionmay be further characterized as having to do with Huid pressure operatedwell pumps in which the pump piston is moved on lts down stroke bypumping column pressure, that is the pressure of the column of hquld towhich the pump discharges.

In my copending application on Fluid pressure actuated well pumps, .SenNo. 378,- 922, filed July 17', 1929, I describe a pump o f this generalcharacter in which the plston 1s operated on its down stroke by pumplngcolumn pressure, the application of the pump column pressure in thiscase however being directly against an upperbpressure area on the pistonand controlled y a valve mechanism in the pump head. With respect to lts5 operation by pumping column pressure, the

present pump differs from that described in my copending applicationreferredto, ln that the pumping column pressure, lnstead of beine'applied directly to the piston and `3 controlld by a valve mechanism, isapplied to piston actuating member operatively connected tothe pistonand extending upwardly through the pump head into the pumping column,said member being subjected at all times to pumping column pressure. Inoperation, the piston is moved on its up stroke by high pressureactuating fluid having an effective upward pressure on the pistonsufficient to overcome the downward pressure on the said member exposedto pumping column pressure. At the limit of the up stroke of the piston,the actuating fluid pressure is cut off from the under side of thepiston so as to permit the latter to be operated on its return stroke bypumping column pressure applied to the piston operating member.

In addition to the purpose mentioned, the pumping column pressureactuated member may, though not necessarily in certain as- 0 pects ofthe invention, be utilized as a valve for controlling the application ofhigh pressure fluid to the piston, since the said member is movable withthe piston by virtue of its association therewith. In my preferredembodiment of the invention, the piston actuating member extends fromthe piston entirely through the valve head into the pumping column, andoperates essentiall as a pilot valve to control the operation o thefluid pressure actuated master valve, which, in turn, controls thedelivery of high pressure fluid to the piston chamber to operate thepiston on its up stroke. I may state at this point that while I haveshown, for purposes of describing the invention, one particular typev ofvalve mechanism, it is to be understood that in the broad aspects of theinvention, any suitable type of valve mechanism may be used for thepllrpose of intermittently applying high pressure fluid to the piston tomove the latter on its up stroke.

The various objects and aspects of the invention will be understood morefully and as to details, from the following description of a typical andpreferred embodiment thereof, reference being had throughout thedescription to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a medial longitudinal sectional view of the pump, thepistonibeing shown at the limit of its down stroke and the valve partsillustrated in corresponding positions;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional View of the upper portion of the pumpshowing the piston at substantially the limit of its up stroke and thevalve parts in corresponding positions; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2 illustrating thetrue relative positions of the valve bores and certain of the fluidpassages in the valve head.

In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawing I have shown, for purposes of clarity,developed views of the valve head and the Various bores and passagestherein, the parts being illustrated as lying ina single plane. Asstated, however, the true relative positions of the valves and certainof the fluid passages are represented in Fig. 3.

Referring now to Fig. 1, the pump, genllever of the well liquid to bepumped. The

pump parts comprise a valve head 12 threaded at 13 in the well pipe 11,and an outer pipe or casing 14 threaded at 15 on the valve head. Thelower end of the casing 14 is closed by plu 16 which carries a dependingsleeve 17 witin which the lower reduced portion of the piston works, aswill hereinafter appear.

Carried on the lower end of the valve head is a piston barrel 18 which,`together with the lower portion 12a of the valve head, is annularlyspaced at 19 from the pump casing 14. The lower end of the piston barrelis spaced at 20 from the lower end closure 16 of the casing` so as toprovide for communication between space 19 and the piston chamberbeneath thepiston 21. Within barrel 18 is a tubular piston 21 having atubular reduced diameter portion 22 extending downwardly within sleeve17, portion 22 of the iston having a sliding lit within the sleeve. Acheck valve 23 is carried within the lower section of the piston, valve23 permitting the well liquid, during the down stroke of the piston, toflow upwardly through bore 24 in the piston into chamber 21a thereabove.

An annular downwardly facing pressure area 25 is provided on the pistonaround the reduced diameter section'22, high pressure fluid beingdirected through spaces 19 and 20 against the pressure area 25 to movethe piston on its up stroke. A suitable abutment, such as a raisedportion 26 on plug 16, is provided for arresting the downward movementof the piston to prevent its closing olf communication between the pumpchamber and space 19 by covering the annular openingI 20.

A bore 28 extends through the valve head 12 and in axial alinement withthe piston, and extending from the piston through bore 28 into theinterior 29, hereinafter termed the pumping column, of the well pipe, isa piston actuating member or valve 30. The valve preferably is formedintegrally with the piston, though this may not necessarily be the casesince, as will hereinafter appear, the valve is caused to move with theplunger whether joined thereto or not. Valve 30 preferably is tubular inorder to provide a discharge conduit for the well liquid in the pistonchamber expelled therefrom during the up stroke of the piston. The valvebore 31 communicates at its lower end with the piston chamber 21a throuh a plurali-ty of openings 32, which prefera ly are located in the valveimmediately above the piston. In the upper end of the valve is carried acheck valve 33 which prevents return flow from the pumping column intochamber 21a during the down stroke of the piston.

High pressure operating fluid, which may be any suitable gas or liquid,preferably a clean oil, is delivered to the'pump through a conduit ortubing 34 extending downwardly through the well pipe and communicatingat its lower end with a bore 35 in the valve head. Bore 35 iscommunicable with the valve bore 28 by way of transverse passages 36 and37, and through port 38 with the master valve bore 39. Within the latteris a fluid pressure operated valve 40, hereinafter termed the mastervalve, consisting of upper and lower piston sections 40a, 401),respectively, interconnected by a reduced diameter portion 41. Themaster valve bore 39 communicates with valve bore 28 by way of ports 43and 44, and with the annular space 19 between the outer pump casing andbarrel 18, by way of transverse port 45. The

upper and lower ends of the master valve bore are closed by plugs 46 and47, each having a small end projection 48 which serves to arrest themovement of the master valve so that the latter is prevented fromclosing ports 43 and 44, and permits a large portion of the end area ofthe valve to be exposed to the fluid pressure communicated through theseports.

Valve bore`28 is communicable with the piston chamber 21a through bore50 and the upper and lower ports 51 and 52,-the master valve bore 39also being communicable with bore 50 by way of passage 53. It may bementioned that bore 50 and the branch passages leading to the valvebores are provided primarily for the purpose of conveying to the pistonchamber, fluid from the master valve bore at opposite ends of the valveto permit movement of the latter, as will presently appear.

Valve 30 is provided withftwo sets of annular grooves, 55, 56, and 57,58, respectively, these grooves being adapted to register with thetransverse ports in the valve head leading into bore 28, as indicated inthe two positions of the valve shown in Figs. 1 and 2. With the pistonand valve 30 in its lowermost position, grooves 55 and 56 are in suchpositions as to establish communication between ports 43 and 51, and 37and 44, respectively. In the upper position of the valve, grooves 57 and58 are so positioned as to permit communication by way of the valve borebetween ports 43 and 36, and ports 44 and 32, respectively. I may stateat this point that preferably valve 30 will have a series of spiralgrooves 60 cut in its outer surface in order that as pressures appliedagainst the valve through the several ports in the valve head, whichordinarily would tend to force the valve into tight engagement with thevalve bore wall opposite the point at which the pressure is applied,groove 60 will serve to equalize the lateral pressures on the valve byconducting a small amount of the high pressure fluid around its entiresurface.

I shall now describe the operation of the pump assuming the piston to bestartin on its up stroke with the partsin the positions shown in Fig. 1.High pressure fluid passes. from bore 35 through port 38, the mastervalve bore between sleeve sections 40a, 4Gb, thence through passage 45,and the annular space 19, into chamber 21 beneath the piston. Thepressure fluid so applied to the lowei end of the piston forces thelatter upward to the limiting position shown in Fig. 2. Throughout theup stroke of the piston, well liquid in chamber 21a is dischargedthrough openings 32 and the valve bore 31 into t e pumping column 29.

The master valve is held in its raised position of Fig. 1 by theapplication of-high pressure fluid from bore 35 to its lower end, by wayof port 37, the valve groove 56 and port 44. Piston chamber or pumpingcolumn pressure is applied to the upper'end of the master valve by wayof passage 50, the annular valve groove 55, and port 43. The pumpingcolumn pressure will of course be less than the operating fluidpressure, and the differential between these pressures as applied to theopposite ends of the master valve, will be such as to securely hold thevalve in raised position. As valve 30 moves upward, the master valve isretained in raised position due to the fact that upon closing of port 44by the piston actuated valve, the fluid previously introduced into themaster valve shown beneath the valve is sealed therein until such timeas it is released by way of the lower valve groove 58.

When the piston reaches its upper limiting position shown in Fig. 2,high pressure Huid from bore 35 is applied to the upper end of themaster valve by way of port 36, valve groove 57 and port 43, the mastervalve thereby being thrown down to its lower position to close off thedelivery of actuating fluid to the piston chamber by covering port 38.The lower piston section 405 of the master valve moves below port 53 soas to establish communication between space 19 and the piston chamber byway of ports 45, bore 39 between the valve sections, bore 53 and bore50.

After movement of the master valve to the position of Fig. 2, the pistonis moved on its down stroke by the application of pumping columnpressure to the upper end of valve 30. During the down stroke, the spentactuating fluid in the piston chamber below the piston is transferred tothe upper interior of said chamber above the piston, by way of theannular space 19, passage 45, the master valve bore between the valvesections, port 53 and bore 50. It may be mentioned that this feature ofenabling the spent actuating fluid to be passed into the pumping chamberfor admixture with the well liquid, is of particular advantage in thatin the event extremely movement of the latter.

sandy oil is being pumped from the well, the admission of cleanactuating fluid therewith will serve to so dilute the well liquid as toenable it to be readily handled by the pump without the lattervbecoming' sanded. Duringythe piston downstroke, well liquid is takenthrough the piston bore past foot valve 23, and through openings 32,intothe pumping chamber.

Referring now more particularly to the action of the piston operatedvalve 30, it will be noted that as the valve moves upwardly from theposition of Fig. 1, groove 57 is caused to pass and transiently putports 37 and 44 into communication. The temporary application of highpressure fluid to the lower end of the valve will of course have theeffect of keeping it in raised position. I may state that the spacingbetween ports 44 and 52, and ports 37 and 53,will be somewhat greaterthan the length of valve groove 56, so as to prevent first, shouldgroove 5 6 be permitted to put ports 44 and 52 into communication, therelease of pressure on the bottom and of the master valve through theseports; and second, to prevent the flow of high pressure fluid throughports 37, 53 and bore 50 to the pumping chamber above the piston, aswould be the case if groove 56 were permitted to put ports 37 and 53into communication.

As valve 3() moves on up, groove 56 will temporarily put ports 36 and 43into communication, with a resultant transient application of highpressure fluid to the upper end of the master valve. However, the fluidacting against the lower end of the master valve to hold same in raisedposition, will be sealed in the lower end of' the valve bore due to port44 being closed off by the valve 30 intermediate grooves 56 and '57, sothat such transient application of pressure fluid to the upper end ofthe master valve will be ineffectual in causing any substantial downwardI may state that those ports opening into the master valve bore whichwould be subject to a partial losing as a result of comparatively slightmovement of the master valve from either of its positions, may be madeof such size that the eflect of slight movement of the valve in tendingto close these ports, will be of no consequence.

Ports 43 and the opening of passage 50 at its upper end into the valvebore 28, will also be spaced far enough apart so that valve groove'56,upon passing these openings, will not put them into communication.Groove 57 will be of similar dimensions as groove 56 so that upon movingto its uppermost position, it will not put ports 44 and 52 or 37 and 53into communication upon passing them.

As valve 30 moves downward from the position of Fig. 2, groove 57 willcause a transient application of high pressure fluid to the lower end ofthe master valve upon passing ports 37 and 44. However, such ap licationof pressure fluid to the valve will ineffectual in raising same, due tothe fact that the fluid in the upper end of the valve bore Will besealed against escape by port 43- being closed by valve 30 intermediategrooves 56 and 57. And as stated, the spacing of ports 37 and 53 will begreater than the lengths of grooves K56 or 57 so as to prevent the flowof high pressure fluid into the pumping chamber above the piston asthese grooves move past ports 37 and 53.

I claim:

1. A well pump adapted to exhaust the Well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn, comprising a piston chamber communicable with said pumpingcolumn and a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, means forapplying a high pressure fluid to said piston including a valve forcontrolling the flow of said fluid to the piston, said valve beingoperated by the piston substantially throughout the piston stroke.

2. A well pump adapted to exhaust the Well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn, comprising a piston chamber communicable with said pumpingcolumn and a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, means forapplying a high pressure fluid to said piston including a valve forcontrolling the flow of said fluid to the piston, said valve beingmovable with the piston substantially throughout both strokes of thepiston.

3. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn, comprising a piston chamber communicable with said pumpingcolumn and a fluid pressure operated piston in sai-d chamber, means forapplying a high pressure fluid to said piston including a valve forcontrolling the flow of said fluid to the piston, said valve beingsubstantially integral with the piston and movable therewith.

4. 'A 1vell pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into apumping column, comprising a piston chamber communicable with saidpumping column and a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber,means for applying a high pressure fluid to said piston including avalve for controlling the flow of said fluid to the piston, said'pistonbeing movable in one direction by fluid pressure applied to the valve.

5. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn. comprising a piston chamber communicable with said pumpingcolumn and a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, means forapplying a high pressure fluid to said piston including a valve forcontrolling the flow of said fluid to the piston. said piston beingmovable in one direction by pumping column fluid pressure applied to thevalve.

6. A well pump adapted to exhaust the Well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn,

comprising a piston chamber communicable with said pumping column and a.fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, means for applying ahigh pressure fluid to said piston including a valve for controlling theflow of said fluid to said piston, said valve having a fluid passagetherein communicable with said piston chamber.

7. A well pump adapted to exhaust the I Y well liquid upward into apumping column, comprising a piston chamber communicable with saidpumping column and a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber,means for applying a high pressure fluid to said piston including avalve for controlling the flow of said fluid to said piston, said valvehaving a fluid passage therein through which fluid is dischargedfrom thepiston chamber into said pumping column.

8. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn, comprising a piston chamber communicable with said pumpingcolumn and a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, means forapplying a high pressure fluid to said pistou including a pilot valvefor controlling the operation of the piston, said valve being operatedby the piston substantially throughout the piston stroke, and a mastervalve operated in accordance with the operation of said pilot valvecontrolling the flow of high pressure fluid to operate the piston.

9. A well pump adapted to exhaust the i well liquid upward into apumping column comprising, a valve head and a piston chamber below saidhead, said piston chamber being communicable with the pumping columnthroughi said valve head, a fluid pressure .operated piston in saidchamber, and means for operating said piston on one of its strokes byhigh pressure fluid including a valve extending through said valve headand movable with the piston throughout its stroke, sai-d valvecontrolling the application of high pressure fluid to the piston.

10. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston chamber below said head,said piston chamber being communicable with the pumping column throughsaid valve head, a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, andmeans for operating said piston on one of its strokes by high pressurefluid including a tubular valve movable With the piston and extendingupwardly through the valve head int-o the pumping column, said valvecontrolling the application of high pressure fluid to the piston.

l1. A Well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston chamy ber below said head,a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, means for applyingactuating fluid to the piston to operate it on its up stroke including atubular valve movable with the piston and extending from the pistonchamber through the valve head into the pumping column, and a checkvalve within said tubular valve, the piston being moved on its downstroke by pumping column pressure applied to said tubular valve and saidvalve controlling the application of high pressure fluid to the piston.

12. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston chamber below said head, afluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, means for conductingactuating fluid to the piston to operate it on its up stroke, a tubularpilot valve movable with the piston and extending from the pistonchamber through the valve head into the pumping column, a check valvewithin said tubular valve, the piston being moved on its down stroke bypumping column pressure applied to said tubular valve, and a mastervalve for controlling the application of high pressure fluid to saidpiston, the operation of said master valve being controlled by the pilotvalve.

13. A well pump adapted to exhaust well liquid upward intov a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston cylinder depending fromsaid valve'head, a tubular fluid pressure operated piston in saidcylinder, said piston having alower reduced diameter tubular portionextending through the lower end of said cylinder, a check valve in saidlower reduced diameter portion of the piston, means for conducting highpressure fluid to said piston chamber below the piston to operate thelatter on its up stroke, a tubular valve on the upper end of the plungerand extending through the valve head into the pumping column,` saidvalve controlling the application of operating fluid to the piston, saidvalve havingv openings leading` into the piston chamber above thepiston, well liquid being taken into the piston chamber through saidopenings and subsequently discharged through said openings and the valveinto the pumping column, and a check valve within said tubular valve,the piston being moved on its down stroke by pumping column pressureapplied to said tubular valve.

14. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston chami ber below said head,said piston chamber being communicable with the pumping column throughsaid valve head, a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, saidpiston being mQved/on its up stroke by high pressure fluid, and a memberextending from said piston chamber upwardly through the valve ead intosaid pumping column. said piston being moved on its down stroke bypumping column pressure applied to said member.

15. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquidupward into a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston chamber below said head,said piston chamber being communicable with the pumping column throughsaid valve head, a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, saidpiston being moved on its up stroke by high pressure fluid, and avertically movable tubular member extending from said piston chamberupwardly through the valve head into said pumping column, a check valvein said member, well liquid being discharged from the piston chamberthrough said tubular member into the pumping column during the up strokeof the piston, and said piston being moved on its down stroke by pumpingcolumn pressure applied to said member.

16. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston chamber below said head,said piston chamber being communicable with the pumping column throughsaid valve head, a fluid pressure operated piston in said chamber, meansproviding passages for conducting operating fluid through the Yvalvehead to said chamber be-` neath the piston to move said piston on its upstroke, and means for transferring the Huid used in moving the piston inits up stroke to said piston chamber during the down stroke of thepiston, the last mentioned means including a vertically movable memberextending from said piston chamber upwardly through the valve head intosaid pumping column, said piston being moved on its down stroke bypumping column pressure applied to said member.

17. A well pump adapted to exhaust the well liquid upward into a pumpingcolumn comprising, a valve head and a piston chamber below said head,said piston chamber, being communicable with the pumping column throughsaid valve head, a fluid pressure operated pist-on in said chamber,means providing passages for conducting operating fluid through thevalve head to said chamber beneath the piston to move said piston on itsup stroke, and means for transferring the fluid used in moving thepiston in its up stroke to said piston chamber during the down stroke ofthe piston, the last mentioned means including a vertically movablevalve extending from said piston chamber upwardly through the valve headinto said pumping column, said piston being moved on its down stroke bypumping column pressure applied to said valve, said valve controllingthe application of high pressure fluid to operate the piston on its upstroke.

In witness that I claim the foregoingl have hereunto subscribed my namethis 28th day

